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Tabuai-Fidow genius secures Dolphins great-escape win
Joel Gould, AAP •  March 16th, 2026 8:27 am
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow | Photo: AAP
The magic of Dolphins superstar Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has conjured a get-out-of-jail 18-14 comeback win over a brave Gold Coast outfit.
Tabuai-Fidow lived up to his "Hammer" moniker with a sensational try from an Isaiaya Katoa bomb and a scintillating run from his own quarter to set up another.
The Dolphins trailed 14-0 at Suncorp Stadium and were going nowhere before a Titans mistake opened the door.
A tap back by Titans centre Phil Sami from a line dropout went straight to Dolphins forward Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, who got his side's first try in the 53rd minute.
Tabuai-Fidow's scintillating 60-metre run led to centre Jake Averillo scoring in the 68th minute.
The Dolphins' match-winner then sealed victory with his flying leap as only the talismanic fullback can.
It was Tabuai-Fidow's 54th try in just 59 matches for the Dolphins. When the game is on the line, Tabuai-Fidow is a man on whom Dolphins co-captain Isaiya Katoa can rely.
"He plays so well when he is confident," Katoa said.
"It feels like he has spiders on him when he plays that way. You could it see with the way he attacked that kick to score the winning try and set up the (previous) try. To counter attack that way, there are not many fullbacks that can do that.
"For us it is about getting him the ball at the right times."
The Dolphins, who lost Queensland prop Thomas Flegler in the 22nd minute to a rib injury, were fortunate to win this one.
Gold Coast led 8-0 at halftime courtesy of a Jojo Fifita try, and after a mistake-ridden opening by the hosts.
The Dolphins' 11 errors and 60 per cent completion rate told the tale.
Their rivals defended well, considering in the previous week's 50-10 loss to Cronulla they had trailed 34-0 at halftime.
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"There was a lot of improvement but we're in the business of winning, not competing hard, so it wasn't good enough," Titans coach Josh Hannay said.
"A lot of effort went into it but a couple of bad habits came out under pressure and that's what we're working on."
A bumbling mistake by Dolphins second-rower Connelly Lemuelu led to Titans centre Fifita scoring in the corner.
Winger Sialetili Faeamani got over the line on the cusp of halftime, but a try-saver by Dolphins duo Tabuai-Fidow and Herbie Farnworth denied the rookie.
Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf said defensive efforts like that ultimately won the game, despite the odd hiccup.
Comical goal-line defence by the Dolphins allowed barnstorming Titans forward Cooper Bai to exploit a hole a convoy of trucks could have driven through to open the second half and give the Titans a 14-0 lead.
A brilliant try-saver by Titans fullback Keano Kini denied Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako in a sign of his absolute commitment.
It was then that the Dolphins clicked into gear with three tries in 20 minutes to clinch their great escape.
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